Furfuryl Alcohol-Driven Proton Supply Enables Efficient Photocatalytic H₂O₂ Production Beyond Water-Based Systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production faces challenges like charge recombination and limited proton availability in water.
• Developing efficient and selective H2O2 synthesis methods is crucial for sustainable chemical processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a covalently linked ZnIn2S4-carbon dots (ZIS-CDs) system for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 production.
• To integrate H2O2 generation with the selective oxidation of furfuryl alcohol (FFA) using an ultra-dry acetonitrile system.
• To investigate the role of FFA as a proton source and sacrificial electron donor.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a ZIS-CDs heterojunction to facilitate efficient charge separation via an internal electric field.
• Utilizing an ultra-dry acetonitrile-FFA system where FFA serves multiple roles: proton source, electron donor, and oxidation substrate.
• Monitoring H2O2 production and FFA conversion using analytical techniques.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high H2O2 production rate of 24 mmol·g−1·h−1.
• Obtained an apparent quantum yield of 14.57% at 400 nm and a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 1.78%.
• Demonstrated 100% selectivity and 98% conversion of FFA to furoic acid.

Conclusions:

• The integrated ZIS-CDs system effectively overcomes charge recombination and proton supply limitations.
• Coupling organic transformation with proton management offers a novel strategy for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis.
• The developed method provides a highly efficient and selective pathway for producing H2O2 and furoic acid.